Notes / Commercial Description:
This is the kind of beer that gives the word "stout" a reputation. Extra generous quantities of barley malt, followed by vigorous fermentation leaves this "imperial" heavy weight with 8% alcohol A.B.V. and a body as full as chocolate bread pudding. A complimentary and complex array of bitter notes comes form potent American hops, earthy British hops, black-roasted malts and, of course, coffee. Santa Fe Brewing Company uses only top-quality ingredients like organically grown East Timor coffee beans blended with New Guinea coffee beans, locally roasted by O'hori's Coffee House. Its heavenly flavor and aroma can't be beat or imitated.

Picked this up with a bunch of other beer on a recent work trip to Albuquerque, N.M. Not like I’ve been saving it to last (which it was), but it just happened to be like that. Imperial. Java. Stout. All three things I like in a beer. Hoping for somewhere in the 4.20-to-4.30 range.

L - Beer is pitch black and opaque in the glass. Head is light tan in color, moderately active on the pour and then fades to just a few whisps. "Legs" on the side of the glass like a strong wine, along with light lacing.

S - Aromas of coffee, scorched grain and light smoke. Not overly complex for this style of beer.

T - Initial flavors are of strong, almost esspresso-like coffee. This later is replaced by sharp, slightly acrid, burnt notes mixed with substantial bitter earthy hops flavors. Late in the palate the sharp flavors fade and leave milder chocolate notes just before the finish.

Great beer from New Mexico. It poured a jet black and presented with a nice beige head. Aromas were slightly weak, mostly aromas of mocha and chocolate. The taste however is superb. There is dominant flavors of coffee, yet it's not overpowering. I find that some beers have added coffee but with no added complexity. However in this beer, the coffee was rich and decadent. Picked of notes of vanilla and chocolate that seems to come more from the coffee rather than the stout itself. It's a dessert in a glass. For a beer that's only 8%, this is a winner.

Near black with two fingers of thick mocha-colored head that leaves heavy lacing. Strong roasted coffee aroma, with some nuttiness, a little chocolate and a touch of cream. Heavy, lush, viscous mouthfeel that's surprisingly creamy and only somewhat cut by carbonation. Bigger chocolate and sweet cream flavors in the taste than expected -- huge really -- with the coffee taking a backseat until the aftertaste, where it lingers. Very, very tasty.

T: Malt, malt everywhere and plenty of drops to drink. The malt and coffee smells did not fail to deliver on taste. Thick, roasted malt, with some hoppy bitterness dashed in goes great with dark coffee flavors. Strong and bitter, the flavor hides the high ABV perfectly. Taking a sip of this beer like like biting into a piece of bread and somehow drinking black coffee at the same time. Great representation of the American stout.

F: Heavy, thick and strong. Definitely a beer to sip. If the ABV comes out anywhere, its in the mouthfeel, not the taste.

O: Great stout. One of the best I've had as far as coffee stouts or Imperials are concerned. Gets to that perfect spot past too little flavor and before a high ABV. Will buy again on sight.